by Jordy van Gaalen

God Shows Up

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“The LORD said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”
1 Kings 19:11-23 NIV

Elijah is in hiding at this point in time. Prior to this, Elijah had witnessed God send fire from above to burn up the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. Elijah watched the prophets of Baal proclaim Yahweh as God, the one true God following the miracle. 

And then Elijah runs and hides.

Jezebel had threatened Elijah, which in turn caused him in his fear to run for his life. At this point he cries out to God to take his life. But an angel of the Lord comes to Elijah and tells him to rest, to sleep, and then to eat and drink. The angel then repeated these commands until Elijah was strengthened to journey on. Forty days go by before The Lord appears to Elijah in a whisper. 

God didn’t physically show up while Elijah was hiding, running, resting, and recovering. God wasn’t in the wind or the earthquake or the fire. God didn’t come to Elijah in the noise and the chaos.

God appeared to Elijah in the gentle whisper.  

God had a plan. God in his sovereignty would use Elijah to preserve the remnant of Israel. It wouldn’t be in the form of a great wind, or earthquake, or fire. God is forever faithful in chasing after His people, His children, His beloved. 

Apart from the fears you face, the fatigue or hopelessness you endure, the noise of the world, and the chaos, where may God be showing up in your own life through a gentle whisper?

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado